The All Purpose Advice Thread - Part 2

Discussion in 'Advice Threads' started by shotgunshane, Mar 27, 2022.

  1. fraggler

    fraggler A Happy & Busy Life

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    If you want alot of attenuation, then a sealed barrier is needed (like another layer of drywall done properly, maybe with some insulation first). Since that would require some serious work and permission, to echo Armaegis, heavy acoustic curtains could help with some of the noise coming through.
     
  2. Boops

    Boops Friend

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    Good question. I hear it mostly from there, but it might be because that's where my neighbor has their desk. It does sound more hollow there when I knock on it than on the rest of the wall.

    Thanks for the advice. I have some cabinets and shelves against the noisy wall so a full height curtain is probably not a good option. I'll see what the landlord says about an air-gapped foamboard layer or additional drywall.

    @Armaegis would you mind linking me to the kind of foamboard you are talking about? Is there a specific type for sound attenuation?
     
  3. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    I mention rigid board for simplicity and ease of teardown if you had to remove it. Anything from the category here:
    https://www.homedepot.com/b/Building-Materials-Insulation-Foam-Board-Insulation/N-5yc1vZbaxx

    If you're building up another wall, one big thing is you don't want any physical conduction of sound. Vibrations will transmit through studs or other places of contact. A big sheet of solid foam will turn into a big vibrating layer if you're not careful. Float the wall or use staggered studs, and/or use resilient channel bars to mount the new wall if you're going that route.
     
  4. Boops

    Boops Friend

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    thanks for the warning. I’ll do some googling now that I have an idea of where to start. Appreciate it!
     
  5. Zimmer266

    Zimmer266 Facebook Friend

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    There was a thread discussion about synergy that I'd once enjoyed. An excellent suggestion posted was that with a chain of
    Bifrost 2 > SW51+ > HD 650, (or possibly ZMF Auteur) got one "most of the way there" overall.

    I did try the first two parts of this, but moved to a Holo dac bought used here on the forum. I have been very happy with the chain of Bluesound Node 2i > Holo Spring 1 KTE > Pass X2.5 > SW51+ > HD650.

    As in just relax and enjoy the music. Try something new through streaming. Or put on an old favorite CD through a Pro-Ject DS2 CDT.

    I am looking for suggestions for another headphone to enjoy. Maybe better sub-bass? No shortage of detail? I've read some opinions and reviews, and was thinking of trying one of the newer Grado RS models just because, or something by Focal, or a used market ZMF. Figure max of $1200, but for that I'd almost rather try two headphones and keep the winner(s). I am not limited to those brands.

    But I'd rather not muck with my setup and spin into needing new amps and gears, so I'm asking where to take my current setup if I'm only really wanting a new set of headphones.
     
  6. loadexfa

    loadexfa MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    I haven't heard the SW51+ yet (I'm on the loaner list) but my understanding is both Focal and ZMF would be good options. I'm a fan of SET amps in general from what I've heard so far. If you can find a used Auteur or Eikon in your price range those are both awesome. I also think the Focal Clear (OG, not the newer version) is also fantastic. So either of those shouldn't require purchasing a new amp until you decide to move up the SET chain or something (like DNA).
     
  7. Zimmer266

    Zimmer266 Facebook Friend

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    There's a couple of Focal Clears on USAM, but these appear to be a Clear Pro, a Clear Mg, and also PacoTaco's Clear here in the for sale forum.
     
  8. loadexfa

    loadexfa MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Yeah if you want used, PacoTaco's clear is a good option. I believe headphones.com still has them for $990 new but haven't checked lately.
     
  9. ergopower

    ergopower Friend

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    If you're considering 2 headphones for $1,200-ish, Drop has the Elex on sale for $600 through the end of April. I have one I bought here, and it is significantly different from my HD6XX. Less bass hump @ 150+ Hz but more bass from say 50 Hz down. Timbre is more tipped up than HD6XX, sounds more open; and overall is faster/snappier which can be good or bad depending on what you're listening to.
     
  10. Armaegis

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    Happy to help. Shoot me a pm if you'd like to discuss more.

    If the shelves/cabinets aren't attached to the wall, you could also stuff the curtains behind them. When shopping around online, this stuff is typically called "pipe and drape".
     
  11. ColdsnapBry

    ColdsnapBry Almost "Made"

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    BF2 -> SW51+ -> bs650 is my main setup. I was thinking maybe a Focal would be a good compliment in this setup. Something like a Clear or Elex. I don't think SW51+ synergizes with ZMF. At least with my time with the ZMF Aeolus and Verite Open. It's a bit odd and I can't explain why, but the freaky macrodynamics from the SW51+, which I'm completely addicted to on the hd650 (even after a year later), are simply not there with the ZMFs.
     
  12. Zimmer266

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    I think I'll buy PacoTaco's Clear, if that works out.

    Next day edit: And so it has!
     
    Last edited: Apr 26, 2022
  13. kee7a

    kee7a New

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    To follow up - I might detect differences with the nobsound switcher in the chain, but I wouldn't say it sounds worse. It's so subtle though that it might be a different cable thing or maybe I'm just hearing things. I for sure wouldn't be able to detect it in a blind test.
     
  14. imackler

    imackler Key Lime Pie Infected Aberdeen Wings Spy

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    Hey all! Got a question if anyone knows what is going on with this cable or if you've used one? It's an apple lightning to 3.5mm. I'm looking for how to get a line out from an iphone to a portable amp without double amping. I don't want to use an external dac, just an external amp (my old Leck). Do you think it's the same dac in the dongle just set to max volume? Or do you think there is no amp stage in it? I'd ideally like a short one, just a few inches long. (Trying to find somethign like the old 30 pin line outs some of would use from ipod to an external amp - without double amping - but for an iphone.)
     
  15. Pancakes

    Pancakes Friend

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    I'm looking for some decent closedback Bluetooth headphones. I have no experience with BT cans so no idea where to begin. "Decent" as in relatively cheap but not horrible sounding. Not meant for hi-fi but tv watching. Any ideas? Or at least where to look? TIA
     
  16. supertransformingdhruv

    supertransformingdhruv Almost "Made"

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    Sony WH-1000XM4? It isn't the cheapest but there are some sales if you're patient. 30ish hours battery, some of the best noise cancelling around if you ever need that, LDAC, pairs with 2 devices simultaneously. More sales if you're willing to go for the previous gen 1000XM3, which is pretty much identical except that it doesn't do the multi-device stuff.
     
  17. Pancakes

    Pancakes Friend

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    Thank you I'll take a look at it.
     
  18. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    Similar to above, the Sennheiser Momentum 3 is also worth a look, and you can probably find the 2 for cheaper (I actually preferred the 2 to the 3, and if I had a time machine I would have just gotten a refurb 2 because they fit me better since they're a tad smaller).
     
  19. Craigo

    Craigo MOT: Mage Audio

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    I found the WH-1000XM4 to be extremely uncomfortable. Pads got sweaty, plus my ears pressed against the driver grills. I do not have large ears. Had it for about a week before I returned it. Shame bc the tonality isn’t bad. It’s more coherent than the WB910N. Also more enjoyable than the WF1000XM4, which had warm-poo mid-bass and razor sibilance.

    From memory, I would second Armaegis’s recommendation for the Momentum 3. They were inoffensive and would prolly suit your needs.

    I recently tried the Shure Aonic 50, the B&W P7, and the Bang and Olufsen HX…and a Master & Dynamic that had the smallest f'ing earcups on the planet. None were very impressive for the price IMO.

    Honestly the Sony WB910N are very comfy and if you can use the Sony app to take the clear bass setting to 1-2 and adjust the eq the results are okay. If you can’t do that then I don’t recommend them bc the stock bass if f'ing ridiculous. Unless you want to watch stuff like Saving Private Ryan then the poo rattling bass will come in handy. Oh, and the pads are surprsingly of higher quality than the WH1000XM4 and there’s more room in the cups.

    Good luck.
     
  20. Pancakes

    Pancakes Friend

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    Thanks. Do you mean the Sony WH-XB910N?
     

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